Web splicing



0. C. ROESEN Oct. 9, 1945.

WEB SPLICING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 11, 1944 INVENTOR ATTQRNEYS 0. (3. ROESEN WEB SPLICING Oct. 9, 1945.

Filed March 11, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR {a 6'. m

BY 7%, I D 1 I ZMY A ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 9, 1945 UNlTED stares Parent Newspaper Machinery Uorporation,

Ma -infield, N. .L, a corporation of Virginia Application March ii, 194%, Serial No. 525,99?

($3. Biz-53) fl? Claims.

This invention relates to the splicing of webs and more particularly concerns the splicing of the leading and of the Web on a new or replacement web roll to the core or-inner end of a similar web from another roll while the latter web is running to a printing press or other web consuming apparatus.

The paper or other flexible web fed to a printing press, wrapping machine, roll windin machine or other web consuming mechanism is fed from rolls which must be replaced periodically as they are consumed. It is desirable that the roll replacement be made without stopping or retarding the speed of operation of the web consuming apparatus.

High speed web roll changing has heretofore been accomplished by mechanism in which a new roll bearing a layer of adhesive at its leading edge is accelerated to a surface velocity substantially equaling the speed of the running web, and thereafter when the roll supplying the running web has been substantially consumed, the running web is pressed against the periphery of the new roll at a suitable point and the splice is made when the adhesive on the new web contacts the running web, after which the web from the expiring roll is severed.

This procedure as heretofore employed leaves a considerable overlap or tail of the old web trailing behind the point where the old and new webs are spliced together, this tall resulting from the fact that the webs travel at a high velocity at which it is impossible for the operator to actuate the expiring web severing mechanism quickly enough after the splice is made to out the old web close to the splice. A long tail of web trailing behind the splice is undesirable for various reasons. Products such as printed pages, wrappers, etc., formed from the double thickness web must be discarded, and the lon web tail frequently flies out from the running web particularly at points where the web turns at sharp angles in passing through the press or other apparatus with the result that the tail becomes fouled with another section of the web or with other mechanism.

It is proposed in accordance with the present invention to provide apparatus for splicing the leading end of a new roll web to a web running at high speed, such apparatus embodying simplified and improved means for insuring that the running web is brought in contact with the new roll web at a point other than that bearing the splicing adhesive, and for further insuring severed close behind the point of juncture of the two webs after the splice is made.

These and other objects of the invention are enerally accomplished by providing control actuators on opposite surfaces of the new roll web adjacent its leading end, and providing means responsive to the movement of such control actustore for first contacting the running web with a point on the new roll surface such that a proper splice is made, and thereafter severing the running web approaching the new roll surface close behind the splice. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a control actuator on the outer surface of the new web end governs web pressing apparatus responsive to the movement of this actuator on the new roll surface, while a control actuator on the under surface of the new web end governs expiring Web severing apparatus responsive to the movement of this control actuator along the running web leaving the new roll surface after the splice is made.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which certain preferred embodiments thereof have been illustrated. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic and simplified elevation of apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial elevation similar to Fig. 1 showing the apparatus in the position in which the running web is pressed against the new roll surface in order to make the splice;

Fig. 3 is an elevation similar to Fig. 2 showing the apparatus in the position in which the web that the web running from the expiring roll is running from the expiring roll is severed after the splice is made;

Fig. 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. l and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a web end tab employed in accordance with and embodying one aspect of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective showing a new r011 prepared for Splicing in accordance with a modification of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a conventional three-roll reel 1 which is rotatable about a central axis 8 and carries three sets of web roll spindles 9, l0 and II at the ends of its arms. As shown, the spindles 9 carry a web roll l2 that is substantially consumed, and new web rolls l3 and [4 are respectively mounted on the spindles I ll and I l.

A set of new roll driving belts l5, l6 and I1 is mounted on a suitable frame l8 pivoted to swing about the shaft l9 so that the belts may be moved upward out of contact with the surface cf the roll i 3 when the reel 1 is to be rotated. The belts IE, it and H are relatively spaced transversely of the web roll surface as shown in Fig. 4. Each of the'belts i5, lfiand 8'! runs over a pair of idler pulleys 20 and 2| and a drive pulley 22. The pulleys 23 and 2| are journaled on arms 23 secured to a shaft 24 carried by the frame 58. The drive pulleys 22 are driven at a peripheral velocity substantially corresponding to the running web speed through a suitable driving connection such as the chains 28 and 21 and the sprocket 28. The driving power may be obtained from the press or other web consuming apparatus. The frame 18 is biased by a spring 25 or other suitable means to press the belts against the new roll surface.

A paster frame 29 is pivotaliy secured to a fixed support 33- and carries a web pressing brush 3| and a web severing knife 32. The frame 23 may be swung away from the reel to permit reel rotation in accordance with usual practice. The brush 3| is carried by one arm of a bell crank lever 33. The lever 33 is biased to move to its brush extending position by a spring 34 on a rod 35 slidably secured to the frame 23 and pivotally engaging an arm of the lever 33. The brush lever 33 is held in its retracted position by the armature 36 of a solenoid 31 as shown in Fig. 1. When the solenoid 31 is energized, its armature 38 is retracted to release the rod 35 whereupon the spring 34 extends the brush St to the position where it presses the running web 38 against the cylindrical surface of the new roll i3 (Fig. 2).

The knife 32 is similarly biased to its extended position by a spring 33 on a sliding rod 40 and is latched in its retracted position by the armature 4i of a solenoid 42 (Fig. 1). When the solenoid 42 is energized, the spring 33 extends the knife 32 and so severs the running web 38 approaching the new roll surface (Fig. 3).

In accordance with the present invention, the functions of pressing the running web against the new roll surface to make the splice and severing the web running from the expiring roll to the new roll surface after the splice is made are governed by control actuators carried by the web of the new roll. To this end, web carried actuator responsive devices are provided adjacent the path of the new roll web. In the described embodiment, one such device comprises a pair of electrically conductive brushes 43 mounted to bear on the cylindrical surface of the new roll l3 at a point where it has passed and is moving away from the running web 38. The brushes 43 may be mounted in suitable insulating supports secured to the shaft 24 of the frame l8, as shown in Fig. 1. The brushes 43 are disposed between two of the belts, I and I6, as shown in Fig. 4. A second control actuator responsive device comprising a pair of similar conductive brushes 44 is suitably mounted-adjacent the under surface of the running web 33 where it leaves the new roll surface. A backing plate 45 may be disposed on the outer surface of the web 38 opposite the brushes 44 to support the web against displacement by the brushes. The brushes 44 are disposed in substantially the same positions transversely of the web as the brushes 43.

The brushes 43 are connected in series with an energizing circuit for a relay 46, this circuit including a switch 4'! and a source of energy illustrated by the battery 48. The contacts 49 of the relay 48 are connected in series with an energizing circuit for the brush releasing solenoid 31, this circuit including a source of energy indicated by the terminals 50. With the switch 4| closed, and the brushes 43 electrically connected as hereinafter explained. the relay 46 is energized and closes its contacts 49, thus energizing the solenoid 31 and releasing the brush 3|.

The brushes 44 are connected in series with an energizing circuit for a relay 3|, this circuit including a source of energy illustrated by the battery 52. The contacts 53 of the relay 5! are connected in series with an energizing circuit for the knife releasing solenoid 42 and this circuit includes the energy source indicated at 50. When the brushes 44 are electrically connected, the relay Bi is energized, closing its contacts 33 and thus energizing the knife releasing solenoid 42 and extending the knife 32 to the position shown in Fig. 3.

The web employed may be paper, cloth or any other relatively thin flexible material. In the described embodiment, the web comprises paper such as that used for printin newspapers, magazines, books or the like, and this web is furnished in large rolls, two of which have been illustrated at it and i4. Each new web roll is prepared for splicing by releasably securing its leading end to the underlying web turn forming the new roll surface, and by applying a layer of adhesive to the outer surface of the leading web end. In accordance with the present invention, control actuators are provided on the outer and under surfaces of the leading end of the web. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, the control actuators are carried by and form parts of a device generally termed a paster tab which also serves to releasably secure the leading end of the web to the new roll surface.

Referring particularly to Fig, 5, my improved paster tab T there illustrated is formed of paper or other thin flexible material and includes an outer web end surface engaging part 54 and a roll surface engaging part 55, these parts being connected by a separable connection which may comprise a transverse row of perforations 56. An under web end surface engaging part 5'! underlies the part 54 and is secured thereto by adhesive or other means 58 adjacent the perforations 56.

The under surfaces of the outer parts 54 and 55 as well as the outer surface of the under part 5'! carry adhesive coatings illustrated at 59, 60 and BI respectively. These coatings may comprise a known dried water soluble adhesive such as the gum or adhesive used on envelope flaps, gummed tapes and like articles. A control actuator in the form of a transversely extending electrically conductive surface layer or coating 62 is provided on the outer surface of the outer part 54, and a similar conductive layer 63 is provided on the under surface of the under part 51. The conductive layers 62 and 63 may comprise metal foil, metallic paint or any other thin flexible conductive material.

In preparing a new roll for pasting, itsv leading ends may be formed into points 64 in accordance with conventional practice, and the end secured to the roll surface by paster tabs T and T, one of the tabs T being of the type described above and illustrated in Fig. 5 (Fig. 4). The tab T may comprise a device similar to the tab T without any under part corresponding to the part 51, and without a control actuator on its outer surface. The tabs T and T are stuck to the web end and the adjacent roll surface with the weakened portions disposed adjacent the edge of the web. In the case of the tab T, the outer part 54 is stuck to the outer web end surface by the adhesive 59 and the under part 51 is stuck to the under web end surface by the adhesive SI, the roll surface engaging part 55 being stuck to the adjacent roll surface by the adhesive 60. The tabs T and T are preferably so disposed as to pass between the drive belts I5, I and II. The conductive layers 52 and 63 forming the control actuators of the tab T are so disposed as to engage and connect the two brushes of each of the pairs 43 and 44. Layers of known splicing adhesive 55 such as tacky rosin glue are applied to the outer surface of the leading end of the web over areas that pass between the drive belts I5, I6 and I! as shown in Fig. 4. The outer surface of the outer part 54 of the paster tab T is not covered with adhesive.

The operation of the above described embodiment of my invention in making a web splice will now be explained. When the roll I2 from which the web 38 is running to the web consuming apparatus has been used to the point where r011 replacement is imminent, the reel 1 is turned clockwise to bring a new roll I3, prepared as above described, to the pasting position illustrated in Fig. 1. The frame I8 is lowered to press the drive belts I5, I 3 and I1 onto the surface of the roll I3 and this roll is thereby accelerated to running web speed. The paster frame 29 is lowered to the position shown in Fig. 1. The operator watches the expiring roll I2 and when it is depleted to the point where replacement is required, he closes the switch ll. The next time the leading end of the web on the new roll I3 passes the belts I5, I6 and H, the outer control actuator 62 on the tab T electrically connects the brushes 43, energizing the relay 46 and the solenoid 47 whereby the brush 3I is released and presses the web against the cylindrical surface of the new roll, as shown in Fig. 2. The position of the brushes 43 is such that the running web cannot initially engage the part of the new r011 surface bearing the splicing adhesive layers 65, and in this manner a partial splice which would leave a trailing adhesive bearing end or tail of the new web is avoided. When the new roll I3 1 turns to the point at which the adhesive layers 65 contact the running web 38, the splice is made. The leading end of the web from the new roll is pulled away from the new roll surface, the tabs T and T tearing along the lines of perforations 56, and the new web end travels upwards with the old web 38 past the brushes. 44. The under control actuator 63 electrically connects the brushes 44 and the relay 5I and solenoid 52 are successfully energized, extending the knife 32 to cut the expiring web 38' close behind the splice as shown in Fig. 3.

It is not essential to the invention in its broader aspects that the control actuators be carried by a paster tab, although this arrangement has the advantage of permitting simultaneous application of the actuators and the web end securing means in a single operation. As shown in Fig. 6, the outer and under web end surface control actuators 62' and 63" may comprise conductive layers of coatings applied directly to the web surface. In Fig. 6, the outer actuator 62 has been shown disposed somewhat closer to the leading end of the web on the roll I3 than the under actuator 63'. This is done merely to clearly illustrate the two actuators, which may be aligned or slightly displaced longitudinally of the web. Aligned outer and under surface actuators may be provided by impregnating the web over a limited area with a conductive material. The leading end of the web on the roll I3 may be separably secured to the web surface by any suitable known means such as frangible paster tabs 66 of the type described and claimed in United States Patent to Wood, No. 1,996,497. Layers of splicing adhesive 65 are provided on the outer surface of the web end. The operation of my invention employing new rolls prepared for splicing in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6 is the same as that described above in connection with Figs. 1 and 5, the control actuators 52 and 53 governing the operation of the web pressing brush and the web severing knife in the same way as those devices are controlled by the actuators 62 and 63 of the previously described arrangement.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for splicing the leading end of a web on a new web roll to a web running past the cylindrical surface of such roll comprising control actuators on opposite surfaces of the new roll web adjacent its leading end, and means governed by said control actuators for pressing the running web against the new roll surface to make the splice and for severing the running web approaching the new roll surface after the splice is made.

2. Apparatus for splicing the leading end of a web on a new web roll to a web running past the cylindrical surface of such roll comprising, in combination with a layer of adhesive on the outer surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end and means for accelerating the new roll to running web speed, control actuators on opposite surfaces of the new web adjacent its leading end, means governed by one of said control actuators for pressing the running web against the new roll surface to make the splice, and means governed by the other of said actuators for severing the running web approaching the new roll surface after the splice is made.

3. Apparatus for splicing the leading end of a, web on a new web roll to a Web running past the cylindrical surface of such roll comprising, in combination with a layer of adhesive on the outer surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end and means for accelerating the new roll to running web speed, a control actuator on the outer surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end, a control actuator on the under surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end, means responsive to movement of said outer surface control actuator for pressing the running web against the new roll surface to make the splice, and means responsive to movement of said under surface control actuator for severing the running web approaching the new roll surface after the splice is made.

4. Apparatus for splicing the leading end of a web on a new web roll to a web running past the cylindrical surface of such roll comprising, in combination with a layer of adhesive on the outer surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end and means for accelerating the new roll to running web speed, a control actuator on the outer surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end, a control actuator on the under surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end, means responsive to movement of said outer surface control actuator while on the new roll surface for pressing the running web against the new roll surface to make the splice, and means responsive to movement of said under surface control actuator along the running web after the splice is made for severing the running web approaching the new roll surface.

5. Apparatus for splicing the leading end of a web on a new web roll to a web running past the cylindrical surface of such roll comprising, in combination with a layer of adhesive on the outer surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end and means for accelerating the new roll to running web speed, a control actuator on the outer surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end, a control actuator on the under surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end, means for pressing the running web against the new roll surface to make the splice, stationary means adjacent the surface of the new roll responsive to movement of said outer surface control actuator for actuating said web pressin means, means for severing the running web approaching the new roll surface, and stationary means adjacent the under surface of the running web leaving the new roll surface and responsive to movement of said under surface control actuator for actuating said web severing means.

6. Apparatus for splicing the leading end of a web on a new web roll'to a web running past the cylindrical surface of such roll comprising, in combination with a layer of adhesive on the outer surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end and means for accelerating the new roll to running web speed, electrically conductive areas on opposite surfaces of the new roll web adjacent its leading end, means including a pair of stationary conductive brushes adapted to be electrically connected by passage of one of said conductive web surface areas for pressing the running web against the new roll surface to make the splice and means including a second pair of stationary conductive brushes adapted to be electrically connected by passage of the other of said conductive web surface areas for severing the running web approaching the new roll surface after the splice is made.

7. Apparatus for splicing the leading end of a web on a new web roll to a web running past the cylindrical surface of such roll comprising, in combination with a layer of adhesive on the outer surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end and means for accelerating the new roll to running web speed, electrically conductive areas on the outer and under surfaces of the new roll web adjacent its leading end, a pair of stationary conductive brushes adapted to be electrically connected by passage of the outer Web surface conductive area, a second pair of stationary conductive brushes adapted to be electrically connected by passage of the under web surface conductive area, means responsive to the electrical connection of said first pair of brushes for pressing the running web against the new roll surface to make the splice, and means responsive to the electrical connection of said second pair of brushes for severing the running web approaching the new roll surface after the splice is made.

8. Apparatus for splicing the leading end of a web on a new web roll to a web running past the cylindrical surface of such roll comprising, in combination with a layer of adhesive on the outer surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end and means for accelerating the new roll to running web speed, an electrically conductive'area on the outer surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end, an electrically conductive area on the under surface of the new roll web adjacent the leading end, a first pair of stationary brushes adjacent the new roll surface adapted to be electrically connected by passage of said outer surface conductive area, means responsive to electrical connection of said first pair of brushes for pressing the running web against the new roll surface to make the splice, a second pair of stationary conductive brushes adjacent the under surface of the running web leaving the new roll surface adapted to be electrically connected by passage of said under surface conductive area,

and means responsive to electrical connection of said second pair of brushes for severing the running web approaching the new roll surface after the splice is made.

9. Apparatus for splicing the leading end of a web on a new web roll to a web running past the cylindrical surface of such roll comprising, in combination with a layer of adhesive on the outer surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end and means for accelerating the new roll to running web speed, a paster tab having a part fixed to the outer surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end, an electrically conductive area on the outer surface of said tab part, and means including a pair of stationary conductive brushes electrically connected by passage of said conductive area for pressing the running web against the new roll surface to make the splice.

10. Apparatus for splicing the leading end of a web on a new web roll to a web running past the cylindrical surface of such roll comprising, in combination with a layer of adhesive on the outer surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end and means for accelerating the new roll to running web speed, an electrically conductive area on the outer surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end, and means including a stationary pair of conductive brushes connected by passage of said conductive area for pressing the running web against the new roll surface to make the splice.

11. Apparatus for splicing the leading end of a web on a new web roll to a web running past the cylindrical surface of such roll comprising, in combination with a layer of adhesive on the outer surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end and means for accelerating the new roll to running web speed, a paster tab having parts fixed respectively to the outer and under surfaces of the new roll web adjacent its leading end, electrically conductive areas on the outer and under surfaces respectively of said outer and under paster tab parts, means including a pair of stationary conductive brushes adapted to be electrically connected by passage of one of said conductive tab areas for pressing the running web against the new roll surface to make the splice, and means including a second pair of stationary conductive brushes adapted to be electrically connected by passage of the other of said conductive tab areas for severing the running web approaching the new roll surface after the splice is made.

12. Apparatus for splicing the leading end of a web on a new web roll to a web running past the cylindrical surface of such roll comprising, in combination with a layer of adhesive on the outer surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end and means for accelerating the new roll to runmng web speed, a paster tab having a part fixed to the outer surface of the new roll web' adjacent its end, a part fixed to the under surface of the new roll web adjacent its end and a part fixed to the new roll surface adjacent the end of the web thereon and separably secured to said web end engaging tab parts, an electrically conductive area on the outer surface of said outer web end surface engaging tab part, an electrically conductive area on the under surface of said under web end surface engaging tab part, a first pair of stationary conductive brushes adapted to be electrically connected by passage of the outer tab surface conductive area, a seccnd pair of stationary conductive brushes adapted to be electrically connected by passage of the under tab surface conductive area, means responsive to the electrical connection of said first pair of brushes for pressing the running web against the new roll surface to make the splice, and means responsive to the electrical connection of said second pair of brushes for severing the running web approaching the new roll surface after the splice is made.

13. Apparatus for splicing the leading end of a web on a new web roll to a web running past the cylindrical surface of such roll comprising, in combination with a layer ofadhesive on the outer surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end and means for accelerating the new roll to running web speed, a paster tab having a part fixed to the outer surface of the new roll web adjacent its end, a part fixed to the under surface of the new roll web adjacent its end and a part fixed to the new roll surface adjacent the end of the web thereon and separably secured to said web end engaging tab parts, an electrically conductive area on the outer surface of said outer web end surface engaging tab part, an electrically conductive area on the under surface of said under web end surface engaging tab part, a first pair of stationary conductive brushes adjacent the new roll surface adapted to be electrically connected by passage of said outer tabpart conductive area, means responsive to electrical connection of said first pair of brushes for pressing the running web against the new roll surface to make a splice, a second pair of stationary conductive brushes ad- Jacent the under surface of the running web leaving the new roll surface adapted to be electrically connected by passage of said under tab part conductive area and means responsive to electrical connection of said second pair of brushes for severing the running web approaching the new roll surface.

14. A paster tab for removably securing the I leading end of the web on a web roll to the roll surface while accelerating such roll and splicing such web end to a running web comprising, a web end engaging tab part adapted to be secured to and extend over the outer surface of the web adjacent its end, a roll surface engaging tab part adapted to be secured to the roll surface adjacent the web end, means separably connecting said tab parts and electric circuit closing means on the outer surface of said web end engaging tab part.

15. A paster tab for removably securing the leading end of the web on a web roll to the roll surface while accelerating such roll and splicing such web end to a running web comprising, a web end engaging tab part having an electrically conductive area on its outer surface, a roll surface engaging tab part, means separably connecting said tab parts, and an adhesive on the under surfaces of said roll surface engaging part and said web end engaging part for fixing said parts respectively to a roll surface and a web end.

16. A paster tab for removably securing the leading end of the web on a web roll to the roll surface while accelerating such roll and splicing such web end to a running web comprising} an outer Web end engaging tab part, an electric circuit closing means on the outer surface of said outer part, an under web end surface engaging tab part, an electric circuit closing means on the under surface of said under part, a roll surface engaging tab part, means separably connecting said roll surface engaging part to said outer and under web and engaging parts, anda layer of adhesive on the under surfaces of said roll surface and outer web end engaging parts and on the outer surface of said under web end engaging part.

17. A paster tab for removably securing the leading end of the web on a web roll to the roll surface while accelerating such roll and splicing such web end to a running web comprising, an outer web end engaging tab part, an electrically conductive area on the outer surface of said outer part, an under web end surface engaging tab part, an electrically conductive area on the under surface of said under part, a roll surface engaging tab part, means separably connecting said roll surface engaging tab part to said outer and under web end engaging parts, and a layer of adhesive on the under surfaces of said roll surface and outer web end engaging parts and on the outer surface of said under web end engaging part.

' OSCAR C. ROESEN. 

